Blacklands Cafe

Downtown Sulphur Springs has enjoyed a great revival in recent years, with many of its historic buildings being renovated and occupied by new businesses. But Sulphur Springs Mayor John Sellers tells us now a new building is being constructed downtown on Main Street by businesswoman Billie Ruth Standbridge. A sportsman's store will be located in the building, with living space on the upper floor. The mayor says it will be complete by the late spring or early summer. Also, Hunt County Agrilife Extension Agent Sarah Latham and Hunt Regional E

Bonham Mayor Roy Floyd says construction on the long-awaited Lower Bois D'Arc Creek Reservoir is expected to start around May 1. The North Texas Municipal Water District based in Wylie is building the lake, but the mayor says Bonham will have a claim on its water if it can demonstrate the need. Mayor Floyd says plans are in place to zone the residential and business development around the lake, the first time that's been don

Herald-Banner movie critic Alice Reese says "Rampage," starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, is another successful vehicle for the action hero. It's based on an arcade game from the 1980s, and Alice says it reminds her of the Godzilla movies from the 1950s. "You Were Never Really Here" is an intense, violent thriller with Joaquin Phoenix, which Alice says is one of the best movies of the year so far.

Our personal technology commentator, Jeremy Gamez, says the terms of service that social media users accept usually without reading may give companies the right to access the user's personal information. If you put it on the Internet, Jeremy says, don't be surprised if an unintended someone sees it. Jeremy is the business technical analyst for the Texas A&M-Commerce provost's office.

Hunt County Master Gardener Byron Chitwood says it is prime time for planting tomatoes. He says the Celebrity variety is the most popular in Northeast Texas, but he recommends planting several varieties of tomatoes to get the best results. Byron enjoys growing asparagus. He says it takes about two years for an

Hunt County Agrilife Extension Agent Sarah Latham says creative arts exhibits are due to be submitted for the Hunt County Fair this Wednesday (April 12) from 3-7 p.m. in the Creative Arts Building of the Fairgrounds. The Fair takes place from April 20-April 29 on FM 1570 in Greenville. Sarah says the Fair is in need of volunteers, including judges.

Byron Taylor, president of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, says a luncheon meeting is scheduled for Friday (April 13) in the Sam Rayburn Student Center to discuss progress on the Hunt County "Yes for Roads" project. Voters approved $24 million in bonds for road development in 2016, and this will be a report on where things stand. Byron says about $6 million has been spent, but that has leveraged about $170 million in funding from the state and other entiti

Amy Stark with the Commerce Public Library says the library is offering a smart-phone app called "Libby," that will give library members access to many e-books through the Northeast Texas Digital Consortium. Audio books also are available. The library is hosting an open house at 1:30 p.m. Sunday (April 8). Also, a "brick ceremony" will take place at Author's Park adjacent to the library honoring Texas State Historian Bill O'Neal and local author Tina Fletcher Selvaggi.

Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville says among many activities over the next few days and weeks is the annual "Don't Mess With Texas Trash Off" organized by Keep Greenville Beautiful at 8 a.m. Saturday (April 7), starting at the Westview United Methodist Church.

Jack Neal, the executive director of the Northeast Texas Trail, says the Trail will observe "Opening Day" for national trails this Saturday (April 7) with events in the 19 communities along the Northeast Texas trail, which reaches from Farmersville to New Boston. In the Fannin County town of Ladonia, a hike and bike ride is planned at 12 noon, Saturday, along with a trail cleanup. Other activities along the trail can be seen on the Northeast Texas Trail Facebook page. Opening Day on the tr

Lori Cope, the director of CASA -- the Court-Appointed Special Advocates of Hunt County -- says April is "Child Abuse Prevention Month." Friday (April 6) is "Go Blue Day" when everyone is asked to wear blue in support of efforts to fight child-abuse. The number of foster children in the CASA program is down from 190 early in 2017 to 184 now, and the number of CASA volunteers is up from 42 to 67. A fund-raising program, "Bling By Badge

Dr. Nick Patras, director of the Texas A&M-Commerce Counseling Center, discusses "Mental Health Matters Day," Monday (April 2). A highlight of the day will be an appearance by Kevin Hines, author of the book "Cracked, Not Broken" about his attempt to commit suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He is one of the few survivors of such an attempt. Hines will appear at 2 p.m.

Byron Taylor, the president of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, says Gabriel Medina is starting a non-profit builders co-op called Makerspace in Greenville that will be located in the former Habitat for Humanity building at 3015 Lee St. Makerspace is a garage that includes tools and equipment that most people are not likely to own, and by paying a subscription fee, builders can go there to make things. Byron says a new restaurant, Pizzo's Sicilian Cafe, has opened in the Uptown Forum.

Commerce ISD Superintendent Charlie Alderman says applications for students in the eighth grade are now being accepted for the Pride Prep Academy, offered by the Commerce ISD and other nearby school districts. Pride Prep accepts high-achieving students and allows them to start taking college courses as a high-school freshman. The students graduate with 36 hours of college credit. The Commerce ISD pays the college tuition for its own students, Alderman

Derek Price, author of the nationally syndicated "Cargazing" column that appears in the Herald-Banner, says the complete redesigned of the Ram 1500 pickup is "remarkable." He says it adds up to a smoother, quieter ride. And, of pop cultural interest, Ram has removed the ram-head logo from the grille, which may disturb some traditionalists.

Amy Stark of the Commerce Public Library says they've finally collected enough plastic caps and lids -- 400 pounds -- to make a park bench for Authors' Park, adjacent to the library. Library patrons contributed the caps and lids. And Amy discusses the digitization of the Commerce Journalgoing back to 1901. All editions of the newspaper are now searchable online via the library website.

The words in the headline attributed to Abraham Lincoln are not the words of Herald-Banner movie critic Alice Reese, but generally sum up Alice's view of "Pacific Rim 2: Uprising," the long-awaited followup to the original "Pacific Rim" science-fiction monster film. Alice enjoyed "Unsane" more, a psychological thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Claire Foy, who previously played the young Queen Elizabe

Commerce ISD superintendent Charlie Alderman says the school board will take up the issue of making improvements in school safety in an executive session Thursday evening. Commerce ISD police chief Joe Venable will present options to the board for making the schools safer. On Friday from 11:30 a.m.

The chairman of the Hunt County Historical Commission, Carol Taylor, discusses some of the guests she'd invite to a fantasy dinner party of Hunt County historical figures. Included is Lindley Johnson, probably the first settler in the Greenville area around 1833, a member of the original Texas Rangers. He settled on property in what is now north Greenville, on Wolfe City Drive, near the KGVL/KIKT radio station.

Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville says AARP volunteers are providing help with tax preparation at the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library in Greenville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (please arrive by 2) Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays through April 11. And Pud says the Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "The Best of John Williams" at 7:30 p.m.

Alice Reese, Herald-Banner movie critic, says "I Can Only Imagine," a film based on the Christian-contemporary hit song by Mercy Me, comes out on Friday, March 16. Mercy Me was founded in Greenville, with Bart Millard as the lead singer. Alice says "I Can Only Imagine" is a very effective film, and she expects it to be a big hit.

Texas A&M-Commerce economics professor Dr. Dale Funderburk says the tariffs on steel and alumninum proposed by President Trump would be bad for the Texas economy, particularly the oil and gas business. Dr. Funderburk says if it's a national security concern to boost the steel industry, then it would be better to subsidize it rather than impose tariffs.

Commerce Chamber of Commerce manager Paul Voss says the theme of the annual Chamber banquet at 6 p.m., Thursday evening in the Texas A&M-Commerce Sam Rayburn Student Center is "Viva Las Vegas." A&M-Commerce head football coach Colby Carthel will speak at the event. Paul says Hunt County Shared Ministries (FISH) is observing its 40th anniversary, and will have a gathering at Mugs in downtown Commerce on Thursday, March 22 from 6-7 p.m., and the spring barbecue for FISH will take place at the First United Methodist Church at

Carol Taylor, the chairman of the Hunt County Historical Commission, says voters in Tuesday's Texas primary might be surprised to learn how much voting has changed since 1900. The poll tax of $1.25 would be equivalent to about $45 today.

Dr. Velvete Womack, our wellness commentator and owner of Balanced Newtrition in Rockwall, reviews a Mayo Clinic article that advises caution in using complementary and alternative medicine. The article reminds us not to take information about supplements and other products on the Internet at face value.

The executive director of the Northeast Texas Trail, Jack Neal, discusses the many attractions of the trail, which follows an abandoned railroad line 132 miles from Farmersville to New Boston. The Trail has a very active Facebook page.